Rome, 15 July 2026 – From the conductor’s baton to artistic coinage. This new issue in the 2026 Numismatic Collection is not merely a tribute to a legendary career, but a genuine recognition of a cultural identity.

The 3-euro coin in 925‰ silver dedicated to Riccardo Muti transforms metal into an ideal stage where, on the obverse, the Maestro’s intensity emerges through a portrait captured by photographer Silvia Lelli. It is an image of rare expressive power that removes every superfluous figurative element to focus exclusively on the act of conducting.

The reverse goes beyond simple celebration, translating Muti’s musical philosophy into symbols. Here, the Maestro’s hands, taken from a photograph by Todd Rosenberg, seem to shape the very sound itself, surrounded by sound waves depicted in upward motion, reaching towards the sky. At the heart of this harmonious vortex emerge three scores by Giuseppe Verdi, the composer most cherished by the Maestro. These fragments evoke the three seasons of the human heart: the youthful passion of “Amami, Alfredo” from La Traviata, the mature devotion of the “Ave Maria” from Otello, and finally the wisdom of old age embodied in “Tutto nel mondo è burla” from Falstaff, which for the Maestro represents the highest and most conscious expression of love for life itself.

The coin, “Illustrious Italians: Riccardo Muti”, issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, was designed by artist Monica Ciucci and minted by the State Mint of Italy (Zecca dello Stato).

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

Obverse:
Portrait of Maestro Riccardo Muti. Around the edge on the right is the inscription “REPUBBLICA ITALIANA”, with “2026”, the year of issue, immediately below. At the bottom left appears the letter “R”, identifying the Mint of Rome.

Reverse:
In the foreground, Maestro Muti’s hands emerge elegantly in the act of evoking music, represented by lines depicting sound waves and by a spiral formed by a musical staff with notes. At the centre, following the movement of the spiral, appear the inscriptions “CANTARE AMANTIS EST” and “RICCARDO MUTI”. At the top is the denomination “3 EURO”. At the bottom right is the designer’s signature, “M. CIUCCI”.

Further details and purchasing information for the coins in the 2026 Numismatic Collection of the Italian Republic are available on the IPZS online shop: IPZS Online Shop.